Past Love

Chapter 23: First Day Back

Monday August 29th, 2005

5:30am

Jahmelle

I woke up out of my sleep, the alarm clock woke me up, today was the 1st day of school, back to teaching bad ass kids. I thought to myself as I stretched and got out of bed. The radio was on 89.1 JESL (The St. Louis Jazz Channel) and they were playing a morning mix of Instrumental jazz music. I got up and went into the bathroom and took care of my daily hygiene. I shaved a bit and hopped into the shower to clean myself off a bit. It's so much on my mind, i got to go to school and teach then within' the next few weeks the trial for Damon is gonna be starting, i mean it'll be an open and shut case because what he did was basically self defense, he was defending himself, he felt threatened and was being threatened. After my shower I got out and brushed my teeth and around 6:15am I was out of the bathroom. I went into the living room to turn the TV on and see what was going on as far as the news and sports went. Seems like it was more so news than sports, it was continuing coverage on Hurricane Katrina on The Weather Channel, CBS, ABC, NBC, any major news network you name it, the storm had made landfall in Louisiana that morning as a Category 4 hurricane.

"Mornin' Teach." I heard Damon say as he came into the living room. "It's your 1st day back, how are you feeling?"

"I should be asking you the same thing, I mean with everything happening soon. This should have been your first day back to school too but.....with everything going on...."

"Yeah I know, it's a mess, it's always something but that's the way life goes, you try your best to get out of a situation and people want to drag you back into one." He said. "But I'm just glad all of this is off of my chest, and I'm glad that all of this is coming to an end." He told me.

"Yeah but Damon, i'm sorry i did what i did, i turned you in and all, well i told Dante what happened, but i didn't know what to do, you left, i was worried and from there this came up, i know you're mad at me man and that's cool, i understand, i just didn't want nothing to happen to you though." I honestly said, he looked at me with a half hearted smile.

"It's cool, I have to face this, I'm sick of running, I'm done running, Teach." He said as he sat beside me on the couch. "Look I appreciate what you've done for me, you're like the brother i never had, hell to be honest you're like a father figure to me, even if you do have a little bit of sugar in your tank." We both busted out laughing. "Naw but in all seriousness i appreciate everything you've done for me, when you first saw me you could have been like forget him, he'll never amount to anything but you and those around me seen something in me, the past three months have been a whirlwind roller coaster ride but i'm gonna get through it, thanks again." He hugged me, then he got up and got some food.

7:30am

I got to school early, so that way I could have time to prepare before the students got there for the 1st day of school. I'm getting a new freshman class of students as well as a senior class in my P.E. Class. Awww how I missed Cambridge High School over the summer. As i pulled into the parking lot i see where we had new lines in the school lot as well as a new Garden Area in front of the school, it looks like we got some funding over the summer, which was good, the city leaders are trying to rebuild some parts of St. Louis, which I think is a good thing. I got into my classroom and got some of my stuff out of my box and placed it into the classroom like I did the year before. I sat back and reclined in my chair and just thought about everything that happened the past 3 or 4 months. I must have been deep into my thoughts because the next thing I knew the school bell rang.

"All right, well here we go." I said as students started coming into the classroom. "Hey Students, welcome to my class. It's a new school year we're going to start things off on a lighter note so while you're in the class, talk amongst friends & I'll ask a couple questions and feel free to answer them if you want." I have looked over some papers pertaining to class and as I was doing that one student walked up to my desk. "Hello, can I help you?" I asked him. "Wait a minute, you look familiar."

"Yes, my name is Khris. I'm Damon's younger brother. This is my freshman year here. I just wanted to know how he was doing."

"I really can't talk about that right now but if you want we can talk after school."

"All right well that sounds good. Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Can I ask you another question?"

"Sure youngster, what's on your mind?"

"I was thinking about going out for the basketball team this year. I like the sport. I was wondering if you could help me or give me any tips?"

"Again if you want I can help you after school or... you know what? Actually we can do a little exercise. Not actual exercise but like a little mini quiz after school."

"All right, well that sounds good. Again thank you Mr. Hendrix."

"No problem Young man."

Classes ran smoothly for the rest of the day and around 3:30pm school let out. After school let out I waited for Damon's younger brother Khris to come back to the classroom and around 3:45 p.m. he showed up.

"Hey Mr Hendrix, how are you doing?"

"I'm good I was just waiting on you. Now what do you want to know exactly?"

"Well like I said earlier I just want to know how my brother is doing.'

"Well he's a nervous wreck in all honesty. I mean he defended herself and now he could go to prison for a long time just for the simple fact of him defending himself over somebody that was trying to make his life miserable so I don't think he's in the best of moods right now."

"I know. Mom is worried about him too, we all are. We just don't know what's going to happen but you know what I'm glad he has you in his life."

"I appreciate that little man I really do. You know he probably would love to hear from you as well. You should call the house sometime. Now as far as basketball, what do you need help with?"

"Well with a lot honestly. Mainly my crossovers and I need to work on my dribbling as well as shooting from the three-point line."

"Well I mean I can help you with that. That should be no problem."

I left my classroom and went into the gym that was right beside it and since I had a key to the supply closet so I went into the supply closet and pulled out a basketball.

"Alright so here's what you want to take the ball." I said as he took the ball. "Now when you have somebody guarding you, you need to keep the ball near you at all times. If you see him moving to the left then you go ahead and take the ball to your right and if you see him moving to your right you take the ball to your left. Basically it's a game of keep away. You got that ball like your life depends on it." I told him.

"Now here's what I want you to do, I'm going to charge at you, come right at you, look at where my hand goes and take the ball in the opposite direction and then I want you to try to cross the ball over and from there take it to the hoop." I said. The first few times he failed but around the fourth time he got it and when he took it he jumped up and dunked it.

"See there you go, that's what I'm talking about man that's exactly what I'm talking about!! That was easy as pie."

I practiced with Khris for the next hour around 4:30 or 4:45 p.m. We wrapped up and I went ahead and dropped him off at his mom's house. From there I headed back to my house and I got there around 5:00 p.m. I went to the door and opened it.

"Hey, teach how you are doing?" Damon asked as I walked in.

"I'm doing as good as I can be. Guess who I saw today? Your younger brother. He's starting his freshman year at Cambridge. I have him in my first period gym class. He asked about you and I went ahead and let him know that you were doing all right but I think he wants to hear from you himself so you might want to call him."

"I will but at the moment I have a lot on my mind. But I will when I get the chance I promise. Thanks, teach."

End Of Chapter 23